AIBU to be upset about having to pick a front door I don't like?

[Delara]

I got the keys to a new house in May, and my partner moved in last week. I'd been trying for over a month to get a new front door, having had around 5 fitters come to measure and then say they couldn't source a door that narrow.

My partner then moved in and pushed for me to get a new front door ASAP as he had accidentally let the cats out (we currently have a recessed door and need an airlock).

I ended up buying the only style of door I could find that could be produced so narrow, and it's a cotta,ge style front door that will be put on my Edwardian house. It's not been fitted yet but is in production so too late to change. I really wanted a traditional style door.

AIBU to be feeling resentful of the rush and having to compromise on the front door? I lived in a house with three years without an airlock and learned how to not let the cats out. We are both obviously stressed for the cats' safety, and I was planning to buy a door anyway for my partner's sake, but I am feeling resentful that this has pushed me into buying a door that doesn't suit the house.

Pic attached of what it will look like when fitted

I think I am being unreasonable and it's not my partner's fault the fitters couldn't find a door. But I'm struggling with the compromise.

Yeah it's your house that you've bought and now a man has moved in and taken over and told you to do something and it's not what you wanted. I'd be upset. You know for the future to put your foot down and not he bossed about.

I don't understand how the door is so difficult to source. You get a solid wood door and cut it to size, surely? We've cut and made loads of our doors.

2k isn’t a lot for a composite door and frame.

Its a front door, how it looks us unimportant as you will only look at it for a few seconds walking up the path. What is important is how secure it is and how long it will last.

Voted YABU, not because of the door itself, but because you allowed yourself to be railroaded into buying something you don't like for YOUR house. Why did you not stand up for yourself? Your bf does not get to dictate your choices in your own home, and he needs to learn to take more care of your cats.🙄

My front door is non standard too.

It was made by a local carpenter and is exactly what I wanted. I would never pay £2000 for a composite door.

The door looks fine. Don’t let your partner railroad you into any more decisions though. It’s your house.

I think it’s nice tbh.

Literally the only function of the door is to be secure. You will look at it for a few seconds once or twice a day. Does it really matter so much? If it does, then maybe there's something else behind that that's not about the door.

You think 2k is a lot for a front door?

I like the door, and I like the colour. Not totally sure on the little window, but we went for more glass for the light. That may not suit you though.

You have nice taste, you're feeling rushed so you're not sure, you feel like there may be the perfect option out there you're missing.

Is there a cancellation period on the order? If so, allow yourself another day or so to follow up on some of the suggestions here re reclamation yards etc, and if nothing appears you have your answer. If you must have a new door (What's an airlock in this circumstance btw?) then you have chosen a very nice looking one.

I would have chosen yellow for ours but it wasn't available, there is a buttercup yellow one near us that I always admire.

Um, just checking that you’ve been really clear about ownership of the house, if he’s contributing to the mortgage at a rate higher than a lodger would? Not trying to open up a financial discussion here, just checking you’ve thought it through.

@ReplacementBusDriver you think you’re getting a bespoke hand made door for less than £2k? you’re not

@Delara from reading your initial post, the problem isn't the door. It's the neglectful partner.
Had the cats escaped before he moved in?
Therein lies your answer.

The door is fine, but I don't think the door is the problem.
It is your house but your partner seems to be making the decisions.
Review your relationship.

You can get a bespoke door for much less than you were quoted. Shop around!

You are an adult, no one forced you to rush the decision. Your partner may have put pressure on to make a decision but you could have pushed back. Yanbu to regret your decision but yabu for blaming him when you chose it!

I dont really know what an air lock means in a residential property. They're in lots of units that Ive worked in at times.

I had to buy a similar door that I hate (and it was galling as it was so effing expensive as it had a tripped lock/internal frame thingy for security). Still don’t like it 10 years later, but I only notice it on entering and leaving, so I’m kind of resigned to it now.

Just remember you will likely only look at it/see it for a minute a day in total.

Sorry to be thick but what is an air lock door and how does it stop the cats getting out?

we got a door recently and it was astonishing how much they cost now. Wood doors bend and warp so a false economy.

Surely you just keep the inner door closed so the cats can’t get into the porch? Is the porch original, or an add-on?

Here for hints on how to stop the cat escaping.
We're cat sitting long term and whilst we have 'airlocks' front and back she's got to know when we're going out and is very good at getting into the porch/utility.

We use a dog g8. There are a few different configurations. We made bespoke lengths for our two doors and attached to the hallway walls a little further back to create airlock systems.

It's advertised for dogs, but I don't see why it wouldn't work for cats.

https://www.dog-g8.com/products/dog-g8

I hope you learn to like your door as it's perfectly nice, but adding another possibility just in case.

I like the door. It’s a lovely colour and matches next door. Even if you don’t like it when it’s fitted, I think you'll stop noticing and being bothered about it in no time. If however it really irks you, can’t you repaint it? On another note, you need to stop resenting DP choices in your home or your relationship won’t last.

Let the cats pop outside when they want and reduce the door stress??

How did you get a sofa in?!